Illnesses of the Famous Often Reflect Courage, Mystery

Ronald Reagan died of Alzheimer's disease. Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Rock singer Sting has bipolar disorder. When the famous among us get sick, it makes the news, no matter what the illness. Here's a quiz to see if you're up-to-date on celebrities' health, both past and present.

1. Nobel physicist Albert Einstein died of:

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For years, Dr. Einstein had complained of pain in his upper abdomen. The pain would come and go, about every three to four months. An aneurysm the size of a grapefruit was found during exploratory surgery in 1948. Doctors at that time could only reinforce the blood vessel wall and hope to give the patient more time. In 1955, the aneurysm finally burst. Although his doctor had continually advised him to have follow-up surgery after 1948 (surgeons were beginning to replace damaged blood vessels with grafts), Dr. Einstein refused. "I have done my share. It is time to go," he said. "I will do it elegantly." He died in April 1955. Mr. Einstein was 76 when he died.

The former Disney Mouseketeer revealed that she has MS in 1992, after rumors began to circulate about her condition. The disease forced her to abandon her singing and acting career, but she went on to found the Annette Funicello Bear Co. in 1992. She also does work on behalf of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Van Gogh's suicide has been attributed to any of several health problems he had—syphilis, manic-depression (bipolar disorder), lead poisoning, and epilepsy caused by his addiction to absinthe, a green liqueur distilled from wormwood. He died at age 37.

Fox, an Emmy Award-winning TV actor, has starred in "Family Ties" and "Spin City," as well as many popular movies, including the "Back to the Future" trilogy. He was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease in 1991, and disclosed his condition in 1998. He founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000 to work toward a cure for Parkinson's.

5. Actress Mary Tyler Moore has lived with what disease since the 1960s?

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Moore, who starred in two popular TV shows, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," as well as in numerous movies and TV specials, has type 1 diabetes. She has done a great deal to raise public awareness about the disease, and currently serves as the international chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.

Johnson announced that he was infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in November 1991. As one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, Johnson promised to use his public prominence as a spokesman in the fight against AIDS. He retired from the Los Angeles Lakers that same year and founded Magic Johnson Foundation Inc. to raise funds for community groups dealing with HIV/AIDS education and prevention.

Or so the theory now holds. Beethoven suffered his adult life from chronic abdominal pain and indigestion, and went from doctor to doctor in an attempt to find a diagnosis. He was also irritable and depressed. Recent chemical analysis of eight strands of his hair found high levels of lead, 100 times the allowable limit. Scientists argue that the lead poisoning occurred as an adult; if Beethoven had lead poisoning as a child, he would have had learning disabilities. The source of the lead is unknown; it could have come from his drinking water or from dishes or utensils he used. Beethoven died in 1827 at age 57.

A. Lead poisoningB. SuicideC. CancerD. Mercury poisoning

8. Comedian Andy Kaufman died of:

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Starting around Thanksgiving 1983, Kaufman developed a cough that continued to worsen over time. When lung cancer was diagnosed, it was already in an advanced stage. The rare, large-cell carcinoma was incurable and inoperable. This was a surprise to many, because Kaufman had not smoked, used drugs, or drunk since high school. It was speculated that the cancer was possibly related to the secondhand smoke in the clubs and lounges where he performed. He died in May 1984. Kaufman was 35 when he died.

Payton disclosed in February 1999 that he was suffering from a liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis. During his treatment for the disease, doctors discovered that he also had cancer of the bile duct. It was very advanced and progressed rapidly. Payton died in November 1999 of bile duct cancer. Payton was 45 when he died.

Henson, creator of "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show," developed flulike symptoms in May 1990. Four days later, his condition worsened enough that he went to the hospital. He died 20 hours later, of complications of pneumonia caused by an aggressive group A streptococcal infection. Despite antibiotics, the infection caused his heart and kidneys to fail. He was 53. Over his 30-year career, Henson received 18 Emmy awards, seven Grammy awards and four Peabody awards.

A. PneumoniaB. AIDSC. Injuries from a car accidentD. Emphysema

11. Hockey legend Mario Lemieux has:

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He was diagnosed in January 1993. Later that year, Lemieux created the Mario Lemeieux Foundation, to work for a cure. Since then, Lemieux has become owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the National Hockey League team for which he starred, and has even returned to the ice as a player.